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The Academic Imperfectionist

Rebecca Roache
Mental Health
Perfectionism
Productivity
Coaching
Procrastination
Philosophy
Imposter Syndrome
Self-Improvement
Anxiety
Academia
Self-Compassion
Writing Process
Stoicism
Burnout
Writing Anxiety
Motivation
Hope Labour
Fundamental Attribution Error
Writing
Self-Care

The Academic Imperfectionist combines philosophical analysis and coaching insights to help you dump perfectionism and flourish on your own terms. Your host is Dr Rebecca Roache, a coach and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of London.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes135Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessEducationMental HealthSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for The Academic Imperfectionist

Latest Episodes

Yeah, okay, clickbaity title, but I really do want to share with you a helpful way of reframing perfectionism that I've been thinking about recently. Perfectionism happens when our lack of confidence in our ability to succeed meets our lack of knowle... more

Do you ever worry that you're not serious enough for academia? That you're constantly playing whack-a-mole with hiding your many frivolous and unimpressive traits as you try to convince everyone that you deserve your place at the table? That you're a... more

You know how, when teaching finishes for the summer, you feel all-powerful and end up vastly over-estimating how much you'll be able to get done before the new academic year? And, have you ever noticed that the opposite happens once term starts up ag... more

Binary thinking is that horrible all-or-nothing approach that holds us back by convincing us that any positive change we consider will inevitably lead to disaster. You know the sort of thing: 'I should be more assertive, but if I try, I'll end up bei... more

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Recent Guests

Katrien Devolder
Professor of Applied Ethics and Director of Public Philosophy at the Uehiro Oxford Institute, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: #128: Professor Katrien Devolder on why you're wrong about laziness
Polaris Koi
Assistant Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Turku, Finland
University of Turku
Episode: #127: Professor Polaris Koi on why self-control is not what you think it is
Dr. Dana Klisanin
Psychologist and founder of ReWilding Lab, recognized among the 50 leading female futurists by Forbes.
ReWilding Lab
Episode: #124: Dr Dana Klisanin on wild willpower and drawing resilience from nature
Wendelien van Eerde
Associate Professor in the Amsterdam Business School at the University of Amsterdam and expert in procrastination and motivation.
University of Amsterdam
Episode: #120: Professor Wendelien van Eerde on the science of procrastination
Bethany Wilinski
Tenured associate professor at Michigan State University and Sabbatical coach
Michigan State University
Episode: #110: How to sabbatical like a pro, with Professor Bethany Wilinski
John Sellars
Professor of philosophy and expert on Stoicism
Royal Holloway, University of London
Episode: #105: Professor John Sellars on how to live like a Stoic
Kate Ahl
Therapist with extensive experience in academic settings, previously worked at Cambridge University.
Episode: #104: Kate Ahl on what academics talk about in therapy
Tony Stubblebine
CEO of Medium, former successful writer on Medium, and entrepreneur
Medium
Episode: #103: Tony Stubblebine (CEO of Medium) on how to find, build, and engage your audience
Professor Stephanie Dunson
Writing process expert and former Director of Writing Programs
University of Connecticut and Yale School of Management
Episode: #102: Professor Stephanie Dunson on levelling up your writing process

Host

Dr Rebecca Roache
Host and philosophy faculty affiliate focused on coaching and practical philosophy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 224 ratings
  • Soothing truth

    Rebecca’s voice is very soothing. Love everything she has to say. Kind and wise. Thank you!-

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zioptics
    United States10 months ago
  • Best writing podcast ever

    Please listen to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SophiaGrace411
    United Statesa year ago
  • Essential listening

    A friend and colleague recommended this and I have binged almost every episode (while I probably should have been writing obviously). Incredibly useful for those of us plagued by self-doubt and anxiety that nests in our work projects. It’s even made me re-examine the conclusion that I wasn’t clever enough to study philosophy (a mere 30 years later).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    overthere1
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Helpful and thought provoking

    As an academic, I find Rebecca‘s podcast incredibly helpful. I recommend it to my PhD students and many early career colleagues. It provides a thoughtful way of reflecting on our priorities, productivity, and fear of failure and fear of missing out. Invaluable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    djag2
    Australia2 years ago
  • Really Helpful!!!

    Are you a PhD student struggling to find motivation on your journey? Do you feel guilty for taking a break, even though you have so many tasks left to finish? Do you feel like an incompetent student, even when your supervisors give you positive feedback? I understand how overwhelming this can be. However, I have some good news - there is a way to tackle these challenges. I recommend listening to this amazing podcast. As a PhD student myself, I have found it incredibly helpful in keeping me motiv... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    YudyH
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is praised for being highly helpful to PhD students and academics dealing with perfectionism and burnout.
Listeners describe the host as soothing and wise, with practical, actionable guidance.
Audiences appreciate concise, insightful episodes that connect philosophy to everyday productivity and resilience.
Guests are valued for adding depth to coaching-focused conversations without losing the personal coaching lens.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#127: Professor Polaris Koi on why self-control is not what you think it is
Q: Why should we be thinking of self-control difficulties as something other than individual failures?
Polaris discusses how self-control must be viewed in a broader context that includes social and environmental influences rather than solely focusing on personal responsibility.
#127: Professor Polaris Koi on why self-control is not what you think it is
Q: Can you start off maybe with you telling us a bit about yourself? How did you get into philosophy?
Polaris explains that he never thought about philosophy as a profession growing up, initially studying comparative literature before shifting to philosophy due to a supportive professor's encouragement.
#120: Professor Wendelien van Eerde on the science of procrastination
Q: Is there a certain type of person that procrastinates, or does it affect us all?
There are stable characteristics associated with procrastination, such as lower conscientiousness and higher neuroticism. Students tend to procrastinate more than those in the workplace.
#120: Professor Wendelien van Eerde on the science of procrastination
Q: What do psychologists mean by procrastination?
Procrastination is a specific type of delay. It's the irrational type of delay when a person intends to do something, but nevertheless does not do it.
#120: Professor Wendelien van Eerde on the science of procrastination
Q: Could we maybe start with a little bit about you? So, maybe you could give us a summary of your journey to where you are now. What led you to be a scholar of procrastination?
It actually started a long time ago when I was a PhD student. I went into the library and my topic for the PhD was work motivation. But I saw a book on procrastination and I thought it deserves more than just a personality focus.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Academic Imperfectionist

What is The Academic Imperfectionist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends philosophical analysis with practical coaching to help listeners reduce perfectionism and improve everyday life. Episodes frequently tackle productivity, procrastination, emotional resilience, and the ethics of self-improvement, often rooted in scholarly reflection but expressed in accessible, coaching-oriented guidance. A notable strength is the host's warm, clarifying presence and ability to translate complex ideas into actionable strategies for academics and professionals alike, with occasional guests who broaden the conversation without losing the coaching-centered perspective. This mix makes it appealing to listeners seeking both intellectual stimulation and real-world tools to flourish on their own terms.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Academic Imperfectionist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Academic Imperfectionist:

1. Teaching in Higher Ed
2. Empire: World History
3. College Matters from The Chronicle
4. As the Season Turns
5. The Book Review

How many episodes of The Academic Imperfectionist are there?

The Academic Imperfectionist launched 6 years ago and published 135 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Academic Imperfectionist?

Recent guests on The Academic Imperfectionist include:

1. Katrien Devolder
2. Polaris Koi
3. Dr. Dana Klisanin
4. Wendelien van Eerde
5. Bethany Wilinski
6. John Sellars
7. Kate Ahl
8. Tony Stubblebine

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